The European Nintendo Wii U eShop has restricted content during the daytime, it has been revealed, such that users cannot access 18+ rated content in the online store before 11pm each day.

Attempting to view trailers or screenshots for a game like ZombiU during the day results in a message noting, "You cannot view this content. The times during which this content can be viewed have been restricted."

18+ rated content cannot be purchased or downloaded during the day either. This message still appears even if a user has parental controls turned off.

As noted by a user on NeoGAF, a Nintendo Italy representative explained that 18+ content is restricted between the hours of 11pm and 3am as "an additional precaution to make sure that minors cannot access content which is inappropriate for their age."

"Nintendo has always aimed to offer gameplay experiences suited to all age groups, observing carefully all the relevant regulations regarding content access that are present in the various European countries," continued the Nintendo rep. Gamasutra has contacted Nintendo for further comment on the move.

The restrictions are similar to others seen in certain European countries like Germany, where some online purchases rated 18+ cannot be bought until after the watershed.